Hairdressers across the UK have opened their doors again, much to the relief of people whose roots are showing or those who are covering up do-it-yourself attempts.

Hair salons across China have also returned to working their magic on customers. Despite the geographic distance, stylists in both countries face similar challenges in adapting to what is now referred to as the "new normal." 

The hair salon has always been an intimate environment. For many, it is not just a place to go and get a trim but also a therapeutic space that has been greatly missed during this time of social distancing and isolation. 

CGTN Europe spoke to two hair stylists on opposite sides of the globe to find out how the experts in both the UK and China are dealing with the new restrictions. 

Bobby Du is based at Z by David hair studio in Beijing and Scarlet Salmons runs Damage Hair salon in Brighton. Both share their experiences of how the hairstyling industry is coping during the COVID-19 pandemic.

'People are really, really concerned still' 

Du says that when the first outbreak happened in China and the government decided to lock down all businesses, he was a little bit confused because he remembers companies staying open during the 2003 SARS crisis. 

He says they decided that clients should just stop coming to the salon, despite the challenges this posed for the business, rent and employee payment. 

"Chinese clients have really been careful about the situation," says Du. "People are really, really concerned still."

He adds: "Everybody's thinking that after the lockdown, all the clients are going to line up to flood into the salon. But, for me, after the first lockdown finished, I think, especially for the Chinese clients, maybe it's all part of culture, people are really, really concerned still, they want to be careful, so I didn't really see the people you know, like line up to flood into the salon."

Salmons says that, when the lockdown first started, she received many messages from clients "freaking out about their hair, freaking out about what they were going to do and for me, I was freaking out about the virus."

Salmons says that throughout the three-month lockdown, Damage hair salon has "just gone by government guidelines."

"When the lockdown first started, I got so many messages from clients within the first few days, freaking out about their hair, about what color they should use, what they should do and they literally had only done it two weeks before," she explains.

Despite this, Salmons says a lot of clients have said they are still "waiting to see what's happening" before sitting back in the chair. 

"There are clients who are coming in, the bookings are very full, but a lot of people I've spoken to are still waiting. 

"They want to see what's going to happen, because, as I said, we're only a few days out of lockdown, but there are lots of bookings."

'A lot of people have become hairdressers' 

In desperation, many people have been doing their own hair whilst at home. Du and Salmons say that experimenting is good but it's normal to not be able to do your hair like your stylist. 

"Every single time when this kind of thing happens, a lot of people have become hairdressers during this pandemic, a lot of people have become chefs, so it's very interesting." says Du. 

"I definitely don't want them to, for example, do bleaching or whatever, but just use some tools and just play with it at home ... wear a hat or a hair band," he adds. 

Salmons says that even hair stylists know they can't cut and color their own hair: "I've just been saying to clients 'of course you can't do your own hair. Of course, you can't. Wear a scarf, wear a hat, wear a wig! Of course, you can't do it yourself!' 

"As a hair stylist we know we can't cut our own hair. We can't color our own hair. If they do do it, it's their own choice if it goes wrong. So, I've been saying 'no, no, no, no!'" says Salmons. 

Both hair stylists also agree that there has been a new-found appreciation for hair stylists. 

"I think they've [clients] also realized how important we are as well, when they tried to do their hair themselves and thought, 'oh my God, I need my hair stylist, I'm not going to use the supermarket color anymore, I'm not going to try to cut my own fringe anymore... My hair stylist is actually really important!'"

'Clients might come to the salon if their mood is a little bit low'

Du and Salmons also say that hair salons are not just a practical space where clients simply go to get their hair cut. Salons offer many a moment of rest and rejuvenation whilst hair stylists often act as non-qualified therapists. 

"Our clients might come to the salon if their mood is a little bit low, they don't necessarily need a haircut," says Salmons. 

"I think a lot of clients have missed us, just to uplift their mood ... We're not just hair stylists who just cut hair, we create an ambience of excitement for our clients."

Du agrees, and also says that as many people had "never ever experienced a disaster like this," people have been calling for help with products and hair advice. 

"Every day they are calling for help, with some products, you know. So, yeah, it was very interesting," says Du. 

"I just feel it's been important to stay connected to them all and said, 'please feel free to message me or call me if you're feeling a little bit low or you want to chat,'" adds Salmons. 

Both agree that adapting to the new normal in the hair industry is a challenge, but one that is worth taking on for customers both in terms of their hair care and mental state. 

"Every single industry: restaurants, hairdressers, will have to follow really, really strict rules about every single client, even more strict than before," says Du. 

"I think now we're coming out of the lockdown, we don't just need to give them fabulous haircuts, but we need to make them feel more uplifted when they come to the salon, give them extra-special treatment," says Salmons. "That's what I really want to do – make my clients feel special and that I've missed them. Which is true."

Read more: Pub talk: Bar managers in London and Shanghai chat about reopening

From Wuhan to Oxford: Two families share their lockdown experiences

Check out The Pandemic Playbook, CGTN Europe's major investigation into the lessons learned from COVID-19.

Video editor: Pedro Duarte